OHSAA State Cross Country Championships

( Matt McGowan, 11-01-08, Columbus, OH, RunOhio) Perfect November cross-country weather greeted 449 boys from 141 schools and 447 girls from 144 schools who participated in the 80th Boys and 31st Girls Ohio High School Athletic Association State Cross Country Championships. Thousands of fans enjoyed the weather, the six races and perhaps the country's best High School State Cross Country Championships.

The Boys Division III race was the first championships of the day as runners started in the infield of the Scioto Downs race track and looped around the first 1200 meters before heading out and running on the south side of the property grassy area. The runners would return to the infield around the mile and three quarter mark and run in front of the cheering fans in the grandstands. The runners then exited the infield just after the two-mile mark and would run the hilly north part of the course. The final 600 meters was again run in the infield, as the runners would finish in front of the grandstands.

A pack of six runners in the Division III race hit the two mile mark in 10:11. After the runners headed to run the hilly north side of the course, Fairfield Cincinnati Christian’s junior Isaiah Bragg returned first to the infield finish. Bragg who placed thirteenth in last years’ race held off charging East Canton’s senior Gabe Henning to win in 15:54. Henning who was sixth last year finished one second back to capture the silver. Bellaire St. John Central’s senior Sam Foster improved nineteen spots from 2007 to win the bronze in 15:58. Cincinnati Summit County Day’s sophomore Colin Cotton moved up twenty-two spots from last year to place fourth in 16:03. Fredericktown’s sophomore Isaac Potes moved up six seven spots form last year to place fifth a half a second out of fourth.

Last year’s Division III fourth place team Bellaire St. John Central (104) on the strength of their fifth place runner unseated two time defending champion Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas (115) for their first cross country state championships. McDonald (129) and Russia (154) each moved down a spot from 2007 to finish third and fourth respectfully. East Canton was fifth with a 178 points.

A pack of four runners hit the two mile mark in 10:04 in the Division II Chmapionships. Alliance Marlington’s senior Jarrod Eick who captured runner up honors in 2007 pulled away on the north hills to capture individual honors in 15:38. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s senior Kyle Sullinger (15:43) edged Tipp City Tippecanoe’s senior Jason Salyer (15:45) for runner up honors. Elyria Catholic’s junior Marty Coolidge improved six spot from last year to finish fourth in 15:48. Dayton Oakwood’s junior Peter Hix moved up twenty-three spots to finish fifth in 15:50.

Tipp City Tippecanoe had a twenty point lead over two time defending Division II team champion Peninsula Woodridge thru the first four runners. However, after the fifth runner cross the finish line Peninsula Woodridge would three-peat edging Tipp City Tippecanoe 96 to 99. Last year’s tenth place team Defiance took home the bronze with 142 points. Last year’s runner up Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit placed fourth with 164 points while Mantua Crestwood moved up a spot from 2007 to place fifth with 176 point

Mason’s sophomore Zach Wills who place fourth last year and who won the Division I 3200 meters State title last spring took the lead heading to the first mile of the Division I race. Twinsburg’s senior Stuart Edmonds moved up by the two mile mark to be on Wills heals as they hit the two mile mark under ten minutes. Wills used his strength on the north hills to pull away and hit the finish line with the fastest time of the day with his 15:15 clocking. Edmonds who placed twenty-first last year held on for runner up honors in 15:29. Toledo St John’s Jesuit’s senior Kevin Yarnell improved twenty-five spots from 2007 to capture the bronze in 15:42. Both Hilliard Davidson’s senior Yoshi Shimizu and Green’s junior Dylan Papp improved over forty spot from last year to finish fourth and fifth in 15:43. Medina’s senior Donny Roys (15:47) finished next.

Mason with the top individual and an overall team effort improve from their 2007 tenth place team finish to win their first cross country State title with 100 points. Hilliard Davidson which placed fourteenth last year captured the team runner up trophy with 120 points. Mentor improved five team spots from last year to finish third with 137 points. Green had the team lead after three runners held on to finish fourth with 141 points. Last year’s Division I team champion Medina placed fifth with 150 points.

Defending Division III champion Barnesville’s senior Stephanie Morgan allowed a group of runners to sprint out the first 400 meters and she would follow them for the first 1000 meters before moving to the lead. Morgan who owns the Division III State record in the 1600 meters and 800 meters looked like she was using this race as a warm up for the National Cross Country Championships cruised the course to easily win in 17:57. Last year’s fourth place finisher Attica Seneca East’s sophomore Brittany Stockmast captured runner up honors in 18:35. Canton Central Catholic’s senior Christina Oprean improved forty-nine spots from last year to win the bronze in 18:40. Lowellville’s junior Monica Cairniello (18:58) improved two spots from 2007 to finish fourth. Russia’s sophomore Katie Borchers (19:03) improved fourteen spots from last year to take home fifth place.

Minster who placed third last year was down twenty one points to Attica Seneca East and nine points to Versailles thru the first three runners, but by placing six runners ahead of their fourth runners Minster with 65 points captured their seventh OHSAA Division III State Cross Country Team Championships. Attica Seneca East which placed seventh in 2007 captured the runner up trophy with 69 points. Defending team champion Versailles took home third with 81 points. Fort Laramie moved up a spot from last year to finish fourth with 132 points. Gates Mills Gilmour Academy finished fifth with 150 points.

Cuyahoga Falls Christian Academy’s senior Katie Gillespie who was fourth in 2007 took the early lead in the Division II girls’ race. Gillespie who won the Division II State track titles in the 1600 and 3200 meters continued to pull away throughout the race to win in 18:00. Perry’s sophomore Abbie Cifford who placed fifth last year and was third in the 1600 meters last spring took home runner up honors in 18:13. Peninsula Woodridge’s senior Erin Mercer improved twenty-seven spot from last year to capture the bronze in 18:14. Fairview Park’s senior Jessica Zangmeiste moved up twelve spots from last year to finish fourth in 18:18. Last year’s runner up Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit’s senior Chelsea Oswald (18:50) finished fifth.

With three runners scoring in the top ten team runners, last year’s runner up Cuyahoga Falls Christian Academy defeated last year’s winner Kettering Archbishop Alter 51 to 95 to win the Division II team title. West Milton Milton Union moved up three spots form last year to finish third with 118 points. Peninsula Woodridge improved four team spots from 2007 to place fourth with 150 points. Perry was fifth with 166 points.

Cincinnati Oaks Hills’ senior Brooklyne Ridder who finished second last year in both the Division I Cross Country Championships and the Division I 3200 meters followed Cincinnati Oak Este’s sophomore Michelle Thomas out the south gate. Ridder would take the lead shortly after the mile mark and went on to turn in the fastest girls’ time of the day to win in 17:51. Thomas who was fourteenth last year took home runner up honors in 17:57. North Royalton’s sophomore Hanna Neczypor improved twelve spots from 2007 to finish third less than a second back also in 17:57. Springboro’s sophomore Carly Hamilton moved back a spot from last year to place fourth in 18:14. Rocky River Magnificat’s junior Allison Stillwell improved three spot from last year to finish fifth in 18:17.

2007 runner up Rocky River Magnificat dominated the Division I team race to win with 68 points. North Canton Hoover (121) and Springboro (136) each moved up two spots from last year to take home the silver and bronze respectfully. Upper Arlington finished fourth with 142 points while Cincinnati St Ursula Academy placed fifth with 155 points.

Check out all of the results on – http://www.runohio.com/results

Race photos will be posted at - http://www.runohio.com/show/galleries

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